Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy of S-1/cisplatin for stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using S-1 containing tegafur, an oral 5-FU prodrug, plus cisplatin has been reported to show promising efficacy against locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with acceptable toxicity. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of this induction treatment followed by surgery on survival for those patients. Methods Potentially resectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients were eligible. The concurrent phase consisted of S-1 (orally at 40 mg/m twice a day on days 1 to 14 and 22 to 36) and cisplatin (60 mg/m on days 1 and 22) with radiation of 40 Gy/20 fractions beginning on day 1 followed by surgical resection. Results Forty-two consecutive patients, between June 2005 and February 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 59 (42 to 77) years, there were 34 males and 8 females, 26 cStage IIIA and 16 IIIB, each 21 adenocarcinomas and others. There were 26 partial responses and 16 stable disease cases after current induction treatment without uncontrollable toxicity. Of the 42 patients, 39 underwent surgical resection; 27 underwent a lobectomy and 12 pneumonectomies. One patient died due to thoracic empyema 65 days after surgery. The median follow-up time was 32.0 months. Three- and 5-year disease-free survival rates in all 39 resected patients were 52.0% and 44.0%, respectively, and 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 77.4% and 61.7%, respectively. Conclusions Concurrent chemoradiotherapy using S-1 plus cisplatin followed by surgery may provide a better prognosis for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Further prospective clinical investigation should be required.